Generally I agree with the idea that it is best to buy quality and only pay once. If you work with the item all the time, there is no doubt at all. However, for amateur use the same often applies only if one views the deal over many years. One should ask oneself whether the high-priced "quality" item is really built to be used for decades. One risk is technical obsolescence. If the item is all about the latest hot technology, that is a significant issue. Someone may consider a Bird 43 to be obsolete, but personally I don't. Another risk is whether the item might deteriorate physically over decades. Maybe a Fluke will not, and we have seen some testimonials of old Fluke meters aging well. But consider my own precautionary tale: Over 40 years ago, my professional experience told me that Keithley made very accurate, quality equipment. For personal use I bought a new Keithley 128 DMM, which indeed worked very well for a long time. However, about a decade ago the latch broke on the little door for adjustment access. Apparently, the plastic had aged and become brittle. The battery door latch looks similar, and I figured it could break anytime. Or some other plastic part could break. Now the Keithley sits mostly unused and is supposedly there only for when I want to confirm a reading taken by my $30 DMM. Never mind the fact that battery replacements will be needed, threatening plastic breakage, if I want to use the meter at all. Hmm... I think I haven't used it for about 3 years... and then I had to change the battery... OK, I got 30 years of reliable use for the high initial investment, so it was still a good deal. But where plastic is involved, buying top quality is not a given. Certainly, my Birds with their metal construction make the Keithley look bad.
73, Erik K7TV -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP Sent: Monday, March 19, 2018 9:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] DMM I have used numerous cheap meters (now I am playing with a pen-type meter I got from China for $23). They work, are usually relatively accurate, and have more features than most of us will use. But one thing I've noticed is that they take a longer time to take a measurement than the Fluke 79III that has served me well since time immemorial. I worked as a mechanic for a while, and the difference between good tools and almost-good tools may be subtle. But when you have a wrench in your hand all day, you understand why the astronomical prices of (for example) Snap-On tools are totally justified. The same goes for meters. 73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel Formerly K2VCO http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 20 Mar 2018 00:46, Bob DeHaney wrote: > There are a lot of used Flukes on EBay, maybe not the latest model, > but for us perfect. That's where I bought mine, the price is right too. > > VY 73 de Bob DJ0RD/WU5T ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
